Suzuki’s SX4, known as the all-wheel-drive car with the lowest starting retail price in America, adds a new, flashier model for 2010, and it doesn’t come with all-wheel drive.

The 2010 SX4 SportBack is driven by the front wheels, rides lower to the pavement than all-wheel-drive SX4 hatchbacks do, and has a sportier suspension and an aerodynamic package, including a rear spoiler and a chin beneath the grille.

The SportBack has hatchback practicality and a flat cargo-load floor with rear seatbacks folded while getting away from the plain look of other SX4s.

The four-cylinder engine is upgraded, too, adding 5 percent more horsepower — to 150 — and 4 more foot-pounds of peak torque than last year’s four cylinder — to 140 foot-pounds at 3,500 rpm. This engine change, along with new transmissions, is made in 2010 on the SX4 hatchbacks and sedans as well.

The SportBack also has a higher starting price than even an all-wheel-drive SX4 hatchback: The starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price, including destination charge, is $18,684 for a base 2010 SX4 SportBack with manual transmission and five-passenger seating. This is $2,100 more than the $16,584 starting price of the base, front-wheel-drive SX4 hatchback with same engine and manual transmission and $1,100 more than the $17,584 starting MSRP, including destination charge, for the base all-wheel-drive hatchback.

In comparison, the 2010 Nissan Versa five-door hatchback, sold only with front-wheel drive, starts at $13,870 with manual transmission and 122-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. The 2010 Honda Fit five-door hatchback, also sold only with front-wheel drive, starts at $15,610 with manual tranny and 117-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. Meantime, the car that ranks behind the SX4 with all-wheel drive and a low starting retail price is the 2010 Subaru Impreza. With standard all-wheel drive and manual transmission, the base Impreza starts at $18,190.

Understandably, buyers of the new SX4 SportBack aren’t going to be as interested in four-wheel traction as they are in style and fun driving.

The test SportBack, in silver metallic paint and with black cloth seats and black dashboard, had a spunky personality. At times, when I pulled away from red lights, I even felt my head push back into the seatback, because there was noticeable zip at startup.

The test car had the six-speed manual transmission, which is an upgrade from last year’s five-speed, mated to the 2-liter, double overhead cam four-cylinder. I never missed a gear, and while the shifter had a notchy feel, the power delivery was pleasing through the gears. I would have preferred a slightly shorter gearshift throw, though, to help give a more precise shifting feel.

A continuously variable transmission also is offered and is operated like an automatic by the driver. A SportBack with CVT starts at $19,834.

The eager power delivery in the test car wasn’t just from the engine. Like all SX4s, the SportBack is relatively lightweight, less than 2,750 pounds. In fact, the doors closed with a slight tinny sound.

I drove with gusto much of the time and much of it in city driving. So fuel economy wasn’t great — averaging just 24 miles per gallon. The window sticker had estimated 22 mpg in city driving and 30 mpg on the highway, and the federal government fuel mileage estimates for the Versa and Fit are higher.

There was noticeable road noise from the SportBack’s 17-inch, low-profile, all-season tires, and I heard the engine get buzzy when pushed to the max during passing maneuvers on the highway.

Controls inside the car were functional and pleasant-looking — not overly styled and not cheap-looking. Bluetooth wireless connectivity was one of the few available options on the otherwise nicely equipped SX4 SportBack. Standard equipment includes power windows and doors, fog lamps, automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, keyless entry, push-button start, eight-speaker audio system and navigation system.

Since 2009, many models of SX4 have come with standard navigation system, which was a first in the low-priced car segment.

Another unique feature: The navigation display screen, which is neatly tucked under a flip-up compartment at the top of the dashboard, has one-year access to MSN Direct Services and can provide real-time traffic, weather and even movie times.

The display screen was colorful and even showed a diagram of my test car on the screen, so I knew where I was on the map. This is so much more creative than depicting the car as an arrow.

The audio system was surprising, too, because it had volume control that automatically compensates for the car going fast or slow. That way, a driver doesn’t have to adjust the volume himself.

I just wished that Suzuki would throw in floor mats and cargo net in the price, rather than making them extras.

The SX4 SportBack handled well on twisty roads. There was predictable understeer and some body roll in this 5-foot-tall hatchback. But the compact five-door car remained poised and nimble. The SportBack has standard anti-roll bars and performance shock absorbers. But the ride in the test car was not harsh.

Standard safety items on the SX4 include six air bags, antilock brakes and electronic stability control.

The federal government gives the SX4 four out of five stars for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal crash. Driver protection in a side crash also is four out of five stars, while the rating for protecting a rear-seat passenger in a side crash is five out of five stars.

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